A DRUNKEN man attacked a teenager for no apparent reason, Bolton Crown Court heard.

When William Wiseman was arrested he gave the officer a false name and address to avoid being prosecuted.

Yesterday, he was sentenced to a Community Rehabilitation Order for 18 months with a condition he attends the Addressing Substance Related Offending Programme to tackle his problems with alcohol.

Wiseman, aged 43, of Manchester Road, Tyldesley, appeared at court for sentence after admitting assaulting Lee Leatherbarrow and perverting the course of justice by giving false details.

Prosecutor Adrian Dugdale said that 19-year-old Mr Leatherbarrow had been making his way home from a nightclub clutching a bottle of beer.

Wiseman saw him waving the bottle around and asked him what he was doing before punching him in an unprovoked attack.

A passing police officer saw what was happening. Wiseman said the attack had been self-defence.

Leatherbarrow suffered a burst lip, bruising to his ear and a cut mouth.

Defending, John O'Shea said that the assault had been entirely out of character and he had been very drunk.

Wiseman was also ordered to pay £175 compensation and £125 in court costs.

and claimed at first it was self-defence but later admitted he had gone too far. Wiseman's previous criminal record revealed he had two convictions for dishonesty, but nothing for violence.

He had a good job as a cable-layer.

noted that Leatherbarrow, who had been drinking, seemed unable to defend himself properly.

He later gave false details to officers at the police station and received an adult caution under the wrong name.

Fingerprint checks later revealed his true identity and Wiseman was re-arrested and fully admitted his deception.